The World Cup is a very prestigious event for all cricket players and fans alike. A good inning at the marquee event can make a batsman a hero forever in the hearts of millions of fans. Here are the top 10 highest individual scores in World Cup history, innings which are etched in the memories of cricket lovers all over the world.
10. 171* Glenn Turner (New Zealand) vs East Africa Birmingham 1975
Glenn Turner, who was also the captain of New Zealand, was a fairly aggressive batsman in his time. Hence it was not a surprise when he scored the first 150+ score in One Day International cricket, scoring 171 not out against the minnows East Africa in the inaugural World cup of 1975.
Turner helped New Zealand defeat East Africa by 181 runs after East Africa scored 128 runs chasing 310 for victory.
9. 172* Craig Wishart (Zimbabwe) vs Namibia Harare 2003
Criag Wishart scored the then highest score for Zimbabwe in the 2003 World cup against Namibia. Taking advantage of the inexperienced bowling and home conditions, Wishart scored freely and helped Zimbabwe to 340 runs.
Zimbabwe won by 86 runs by Duckworth Lewis method after rain interruption.
8. 175 Virender Sehwag (India) vs Bangladesh Dhaka 2011
Virender Sehwag opened the 2011 World cup in style with a boundary off the very first ball of the tournament. Sehwag dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers and along with Virat Kohli, took India to a massive score of 370 runs.
Sehwag also equalled the highest score for India in World cup with his 175.
7. 175* Kapil Dev (India) vs Zimbabwe Tunbridge Wells 1983
The most famous and important innings ever played by an Indian batsman in world cup. Zimbabwe had India reeling at 17 for 5 wickets when Kapil Dev walked in. If India had lost this match, they would not have qualified for the semi-finals. He was later joined by Roger Binny and Syed Kirmani and took the score to 266 runs.
India managed to win the match by 31 runs. The only disappointing thing is that there is no video recording of this match as BBC employees went on a strike on match day.
6. 178 David Warner(Australia) vs Afghanistan Perth 2015
David Warner rained sixes and fours on the hapless Afghan bowlers making the highest score by an Australian in a World Cup innings. Warner’s 178 included 19 fours and 5 sixes and came off just 133 balls. David Warner looked set for a double hundred, but mistimed a shot and was caught by Mohd. Nabi on the bowling of Shapoor Zadran.
Warner was cautious early in the innings but after getting to his hundred, he cut loose and started to attack every bowler. He also added 260 runs with Steven Smith for the 2nd wicket. Australia scored 417/6, the highest score in World Cup history.
5. 181 Viv Richards (West Indies) vs Sri Lanka Karachi 1987
Sri Lanka's decision to put West Indies into bat in their encounter in 1987 World Cup came back to haunt them when Sir Viv Richards plundered 181 runs.
Richards along with Desmond Haynes scored at a run rate of over 4 runs and helped West Indies make 360 runs and win by a huge margin of 191 runs.
4. 183 Sourav Ganguly (India) vs Sri Lanka Taunton 1999
Sourav Ganguly took advantage of the very small ground at Taunton, England against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup scoring a blistering 183 runs. He was joined in the party by Rahul Dravid who scored a brilliant 145 and was involved in the world record 318 run partnership.
Sourav Ganguly hit 7 sixes and 17 fours in his 183 and even the brilliance of Muralitharan and Vaas was not enough to contain the onslaught. Ganguly was particularly severe on Eric Upasantha who went for 80 runs in his 10 overs.
3. 188* Gary Kirsten (South Africa) vs UAE Rawalpindi 1996
First World cup for the South African southpaw, and he registered his presence in style. Gary Kirsten saw a wonderful opportunity when UAE put South Africa into bat on a placid Rawalpindi pitch. He responded by scoring a record 188 unbeaten runs. He broke Sir Vivian Richards’ record of 181 runs set in 1987 world cup.
A fluent inning, Kirsten helped South Africa post 321 runs for loss of 2 wickets and winnings the match by 169 runs.
2. 215 Chris Gayle (West Indies) vs Zimbabwe Canberra 2015
Chris Gayle who was not in any form before this match,came to life and destroyed the Zimbabwean bowling. Gayle scored the first double hundred in World cup history 215 runs in 146 balls with a world record 16 sixes and 11 fours in his record breaking innings.
1. 237*- Martin Guptill (New Zealand) vs West Indies Wellington 2015
Martin Guptill now has the highest score in World Cup history with 237* against West Indies in QF of World Cup 2015. He hit 24 fours and 11 sixes in his record innings. This is the highest score in World Cup history now, breaking the record of Chris Gayle who scored 215 earlier in this World Cup.
